Chapter 164: She’s Gone, and This Home No Longer Exists

Gu Jianing didn’t treat Qin Rou, but instead treated Qi Yuancheng. Doesn’t that mean the problem with not being able to have children lies with Qi Yuancheng?

Some bold people even went and asked directly.

At the time, both Qin Rou and Qi Yuancheng were present.

Qin Rou hadn’t even had a chance to respond before Qi Yuancheng answered first, openly admitting that the issue was his.

He also straightforwardly said that he was indeed seeing Dr. Gu Jianing for treatment.

Qin Rou was stunned, and the person who asked had only done so casually, never expecting Qi Yuancheng to just admit it like that.

Afterwards, Qin Rou asked him about it, but Qi Yuancheng didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, he looked relieved.

“You do realize, by admitting this, that auntie is definitely going to spread the word,” Qin Rou said.

“I actually hope she does. I want everyone to know that not having children isn’t your fault,” Qi Yuancheng replied.

His words left Qin Rou momentarily dazed. Her eyes reddened and she hugged him tightly.

“You have to keep up with the treatment. I believe we’ll definitely have a child,” she said.

“Mm.”

That auntie didn’t let Qi Yuancheng down—soon enough, everyone in the family compound knew that the reason Qin Rou and Qi Yuancheng didn’t have children was because of Captain Qi.

After the gossip died down, curiosity took over.

“Do you think Dr. Gu can really cure Captain Qi and help them have a child?”

“We’ll know soon enough—if Qin Rou gets pregnant, that’ll be proof.”

“That’s true. But I heard before that Commander Chai’s wife Bai He and Zhang Shuwan both got pregnant thanks to Dr. Gu. Zhang Shuwan even had twins!”

“I think Dr. Gu really has some skills.”

“If it’s true, I need to get my niece from my mother’s side to see Dr. Gu too.”

“I want my second daughter-in-law to see Dr. Gu as well.”

So, Gu Jianing welcomed another wave of infertility patients. After the rumors, what had been a quiet traditional medicine clinic suddenly became lively. Most people came to see her, but the other doctors also saw an increase in patients.

And if Qin Rou really did get pregnant, even more people would surely come seeking Dr. Gu’s help.

Of course, that was just speculation for now—something for the future.

For the moment, after Magnolia left with Shuanzi, the Qi family returned to peace, and Qi Yuancheng resumed his treatment.

As long as the treatment went well, it shouldn’t be long before Qin Rou became pregnant.

Gu Jianing was busy at the hospital, but she still kept an eye on things back home.

She soon learned the outcome for Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan.

Since the contraband books were found in Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan’s room, the two of them had to bear the main responsibility.

And the two of them immediately started blaming each other.

Wen Zhuqing claimed the books were planted by Bao Shanyan and he knew nothing about them.

Bao Shanyan insisted the books belonged to Wen Zhuqing, not her, and even said she wanted a divorce to avoid being implicated.

But neither of them could produce any evidence.

Since neither could prove their innocence, they both had to bear the blame.

And with Liu Ruzhi and Dujuan getting involved, what was originally not a very serious offense suddenly became much more severe.

“…Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan were paraded through the streets yesterday…” Gu Yunzhu said over the phone.

Everyone in the Gu family, except for the pregnant Yang Manman, went to watch.

After all, they knew that if not for Ningning’s warning, it could have been their family in trouble this time.

Now, Wen Zhuqing was finally getting what he deserved.

Of course, they had to go see his downfall for themselves.

“Wen Zhuqing is going to be sentenced—he’ll be in prison for ten years.”

Ten years…

After hearing this, Gu Jianing finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least for the next ten years, she wouldn’t have to worry about Wen Zhuqing causing trouble.

She didn’t dare underestimate Wen Zhuqing.

She knew he was a schemer—ruthless and willing to do anything.

So, she could never let her guard down.

“Bao Shanyan and her daughter have been sent to a labor farm. They won’t be back for ten years either…”

Strictly speaking, Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan were equally guilty.

But Liu Ruzhi and Dujuan’s anger was mainly directed at Wen Zhuqing, and Bao Shanyan was also pregnant.

So, Bao Shanyan avoided prison.

Bao Yingzi originally didn’t have to go.

Normally, this had nothing to do with her.

But Bao Yingzi only had Bao Shanyan as a daughter, and with her daughter pregnant, she couldn’t rest easy.

So, she went with Bao Shanyan.

After hanging up, Gu Jianing finally felt completely at ease.

From then on, her life returned to normal. When she had to work, she went to the hospital with her pregnant belly; when she didn’t, she stayed home reading medical books and taking care of herself.

Gu Jianing hadn’t liked reading before.

But now, maybe because she’d been reading more, she found herself enjoying it more and more.

Whether it was medical texts or other books, she always found answers to things she didn’t understand.

Reading also helped calm her once restless heart and temperament, allowing her to grow as a person.

And now that her memory had improved, anything she read, she could remember.

That feeling of her mind being full of knowledge was something Gu Jianing truly enjoyed.

One day, Sheng Zexi quietly pushed open the door and saw her leaning against the heated brick bed, deeply engrossed in a book, a thin blanket covering her slightly rounded belly.

She seemed to hear him come in and looked up from her book, bright-eyed like a lively little deer in the forest. When she saw it was him, she broke into a smile. “You’re back.”

“Yeah, I’m back.”

Sheng Zexi made some noodles, and as they ate, he brought up the upcoming Qingming Festival a month away.

“My mother passed away the day before Qingming…” Sheng Zexi said softly.

With his head lowered, Gu Jianing couldn’t see his expression, but she knew he missed his mother.

“When my mother was alive, I had my parents, I had a family. After she was gone, that home disappeared too.” There was sorrow in Sheng Zexi’s voice.

This was a side of Sheng Zexi that Gu Jianing rarely saw.

He had always seemed so strong and brave, as if nothing could defeat him, always able to shield Gu Jianing from anything.

But now, Gu Jianing realized that this man, too, had moments of sadness and vulnerability.

She put down her chopsticks, walked over, and hugged him.

Sitting down, Sheng Zexi wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her embrace.

He remembered—when his mother was still alive, his parents were loving, and their family was harmonious.

But after his mother died, the family fell apart, and everything changed.

“Will you be able to take time off for Qingming? If so, let’s go back to Beijing together and pay our respects.”

“I should let my mother-in-law meet her daughter-in-law, and tell her the good news that we’re having a child.”"